Day 59

Today we celebrate National Read a Book Day with a fun and innovative project we did a few years ago which is still used today.  In an era when so much of what we do is digitally based, it is still important for students to read paper and hardcover books. At the Foundation, we have always supported literacy programs designed by the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) to enable their students to overcome sensory barriers and become adept and life-long readers. SCSDB teachers know that if they can help their students learn to enjoy reading, more than half of the battle has been won. In 2020, SCSDB school leaders approached us with the idea of installing Bookworm Vending Machines (BVMs) in each of our 4 schools and the Cleveland Learning Resource Center.

BVMs are repurposed snack vending machines which are filled with books. When students meet goals set by their teachers, for good behavior, hard work, and other reasons, they are rewarded with a token to put into the BVM and choose a book to read and keep for their home libraries.

With the help of 7 generous funders, we raised more than $32,215 for the program and in 2021 we were able to purchase 5 custom-designed BVMs. We are so thankful to our funders Aflac Charitable Foundation, Believe in Reading, Downtown Spartanburg Sertoma Club, Kate and Ellis Murphy Memorial Family Fund, Scansource Charitable Foundation, SC Ports Authority, and an anonymous donor, for helping us to improve our students’ reading skills.

The image on the previous page shows a student selecting a book from the vending machine.  The image at the top of this page shows the vending machine in the Cleveland Learning Resource Center. 

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